‘Israeli Captive Ron Arad Died In 1988 After Torture’

Ynet news reports: A Lebanese man accused of collaborating with Israel told a military court on Friday that captive IAF navigator Ron Arad – whose fate has remained a mystery for the nearly 30 years since he was taken hostage in Lebanon – died in that country in 1988 after enduring beatings and torture.

However, the new claims contradict previous evidence and are inconsistent with information Israel has previously learned about the case.

The claims arose during a military court hearing regarding five suspects who purportedly stated they knew details of Arad’s fate. Two of the accused were present in court on Friday and claimed they had deceived an Israeli organization dedicated to finding Arad in an attempt to get money in exchange for what they claimed were his teeth and bones.